A probe has been launched after a man's body was discovered in a house in Newton Aycliffe.

George Rae, 36, was found in a downstairs room at the Honister Place home at 8.30am yesterday.

Police and paramedics were called to the scene after he was discovered by his friend, the owner of the terraced house. Officers said Mr Rae, 36, had stayed the night with his friend and was certified dead at the scene by a local GP.

Police were today due to carry out routine inquiries into the death, after a post mortem examination proved inconclusive. But Detective Superintendent Tom Ryan said the inquiry had been scaled down after the post mortem.